Flight Mechanics Lab

Flight Mechanics Lab is dedicated to Prof. Michele Dicran Sirinian and is devoted to the design, manufacturing and testing of scaled models of aerospace vehicles.

Scaled aircraft design and testing Scaled models are designed, manufactured and able to flight. From the flight data recorded on-board (gyros, accelerometers, altimeters, pitot tubes, magnetometers) the aerodynamic properties (stability derivatives) of the vehicles are derived. The following scaled modes are in the Flight Mechanics Lab:

• Dicran aircraft (original design), a 1/5 scaled model of an aircraft able to flight over Mars;

• Cessna (accurate reproduction of a 1/5 scaled model);

• C130 J (accurate reproduction of a 1/10 scaled model).

Air launch design and testing Flight test of separation between the C130 J and a 1/10 scaled model of a rocket able to inject a microsatellite in orbit, are performed to test the numerical models of airdrop, parachute extraction and stabilization, and evasion maneuvers.

Scaled rocket design and testing Rocket design, manufacturing and launch is a part of the course “Flight Mechanics of Launch and Reentry Systems”. Many scaled rockets have been designed through the years and several units are available in the Flight Mechanics Lab, with apogee capability ranging from 200 to 2000 meters of altitude. All rockets are endowed with navigation and attitude sensors (gyros, pitot tubes, altimeters, accelerometers, magnetic sensors, GPS antenna, microcamera). The rocket propellant is produced in-house and tested outdoor (watch http://youtu.be/fCUPcT8BGYI) 

Satellite design and manufacturing, structure and mechanical components of Cubesat, PocketQube and microsatellites are produced  in  the  Flight Mechanics Lab by the available 3D printer and CNC machine. An integration room is available for Cubesat satellites integration (e.g. Tigrisat and STECCO, launched in 2014 and 2021). Experimental testing of attitude determination and control systems Attitude determination and control systems are tested using a 3x3x3 m3 Helmholtz cage, that allows recreating the Earth magnetic field experienced by the satellite during its orbital motion, and a spherical airbearing which allows simulating zero-gravity rotation.

Maritime launch design and testing Experimental testing of a 1/10 scaled model for a microlauncher ejection system to be used for maritime launch. The ejection system can operate using pressurized air or ballistic charges.

Contacts: prof. Paolo Teofilatto, paolo.teofilatto@uniroma1.it

(https://web.uniroma1.it/scuolaingegneriaaerospaziale/flight-mechanics-lab)